Woman accused of cutting man's penis turns self in

Girlfriend surrenders to policeWoman accused of cutting man is expected to appear in court today

PEGGY O'HARE, Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle

Published 5:30 am, Wednesday, November 3, 2004

The woman accused of cutting off her boyfriend's penis was arrested Tuesday after she turned herself in at a Harris County courtroom.

Delmy Margoth Ruiz, 49, who is charged with aggravated assault in the attack on Rene Aramando Nuñez, 34, showed up three hours late for the arranged surrender because, Ruiz said, she couldn't get a ride to the courthouse. At least eight relatives, including her two grown daughters, were there when she was arrested. She made no statement.

"The officers scared her friends and family so much they were afraid to give her a ride," said Ruiz's attorney, Tom Radosevich. He said Ruiz had spent the last few days "gathering her wits."

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Deputies who had been looking for Ruiz had warned those close to her that efforts to hide her could lead to their arrest for hindering apprehension, said Lt. Ruben Diaz of the Harris County Sheriff's Department's interpersonal violence division.

The attack happened Thursday at Ruiz's home in the 300 block of West Lorino near Airline after she invited Nuñez there because she wanted to borrow his truck, sheriff's detectives have said.

Eighty percent of Nuñez's penis was severed with a knife while he was sleeping, detectives said. The part has not been found. Nuñez remained in good condition Tuesday at Ben Taub Hospital.

Ruiz had taken flowers to Nuñez's workplace the night before the attack, Diaz said.

Ruiz indicated Nuñez had been unfaithful and abusive, but a criminal complaint alleges that Ruiz told Nuñez he was cut "so you can't have any more women."

Ruiz's relatives waited for her at the courthouse throughout the morning until she showed up around noon. She is expected to make her first court appearance today. Her attorney said his primary focus is to get her out of jail.

"She is surrounded by big, strong police officers, and she's scared," Radosevich said. "She has a home in the community, and I don't think she is a flight or bond risk. Our focus right now is presenting her to the court and persuading the judge she's not a flight risk."